Door structure



1965 R. o. JOHNSON 3,170,506

DOOR STRUCTURE Filed April 16, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. fioaar d dam/a0 I TORNEYS Feb. 23, 1965 R. o. JOHNSON 3,170,506

DOOR STRUCTURE Filed April 16, 1962 a Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1965 R. o. JOHNSON 3,170,506

DOOR STRUCTURE Filed April 16, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. "i /60 A 062 0. (Jan Mme arrow/95.

United States Patent 3,170,506 DOOR STRUCTURE Robert 0. Johnson, Erie, Pa., assignor to Fenestra, Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 187,672 3 Claims. (Cl. 160206) The present invention relates to doors and refers more specifically to folding closet doors or the like including a combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means therefor, and a method of installation of the doors.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application, Serial No. 152,819, filed November 16, 1961.

In the past, reinforcing frames or members, hinges and pivot mounting means for doors have usually been separate elements produced separately and later installed on doors to perform their indicated functions. The separate production and assembly of parts of doors such as hinges, reinforcing members and pivot mounting means is wasteful of time of skilled production and assembly personnel and in addition is wasteful of material. Doors produced by such methods are therefore more expensive than necessary and due to the many individual parts are more complicated and less reliable in use.

Further, in the past threaded collars and clamping means such as set screws or the like have been used to secure pivot means to the pivot mounting means of doors. These collars and clamping means require considerable time to manufacture and assembly whereby the cost of the installed doors is further increased.

Also, installation of doors such as folding closet doors has in the past been relatively complicated and therefore expensive due to the necessity of paying skilled mechanics for substantial time spent in the installation of the doors.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved folding door or similar article.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of installation of a folding door or similar article.

Another object is to provide a door including a combination reinforcing frame member, hinge and pivot mounting means.

Another object is to provide a door as set forth above wherein the pivot mounting means are so positioned that binding of a pair of folding doors in the open position is prevented. Y

. Another object is to provide a folding door including a combination reinforcing member, hinge and pivot mounting means which pivot mounting means is so positioned that one leaf of the foldng door is wider than the other betweenthe hinge connection therebetween and the pivot mountings thereof to prevent both leaves of the folding door from assuming a position at ninety degrees to the track along which the pivot mounting means slides.

Another object is to provide a door including pivot means, pivot mounting means and a spring clip nut for securing the pivot means to the pivot mounting means in adjusted position.

Another object is to provide a spring clip nut compris-- by the recess in opposite directions transversely of the leg portions in alignment with the threads of a threaded member held within the circular cut-out area.

Another object is to provide a pair of folding doors including a combination reinforcing member, hinge and pivot mounting means, pivot means mounted on the pivot mounting means including a separate fixed pivot rod at the top and bottom of one leaf of the doors and a separate sliding pivot rod at the top and bottom of the other leaf of the doors all of which pivot rods are unthreaded with the exception of the bottom fixed pivot rod, clevis means for securing all but the upper sliding pivot rod in a fixed axial position on the pivot mounting means and spring means biasing the upper sliding pivot rod upwardly away from the pivot mounting means.

Another object is to provide a method of installation of door structures as set forth above including the steps of locating the threaded bottom fixed pivot rod, setting the bottom fixed pivot rod in an opening in a lower track provided therefor, adjusting the upper fixed pivot rod in an opening provided in an upper track therefor and securing it in the adjusted position, allowing the upper sliding pivot rod to seat within the upper track under pressure from resilient means acting between the pivot rod and door and adjusting the bottom sliding pivot rod within the lower track and securing it in the adjusted position thereof.

Another object is to provide a door and method of installation thereof which are simple, economical and efiici'ent.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the acompanying drawings, wherein:

I FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a pair of folding closet doors constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 are plan views of one-half, one, and one and one-half unit folding closet doors respectively constructed in accordance with the invention and shown in various open positions.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged broken longitudinal section through the folding doors illustrated in FIGURE 1 taken substantially on the line S.5 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial broken horizontal section through the doors illustrated in FIGURE 1 taken:

substantially on the line 66 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a broken view of the top portion of the doors illustrated in FIGURE 5 taken in the direction of arrow 7 in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a broken longitudinal section through the doors illustrated in FIGURE 7 taken substantially on the line 8-8 in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a partial longitudinal section through the folding doors illustrated in FIGURE 1 similar to a portion of that shown in FIGURE 5 and illustrating modified means for securing a pivot rod to the reinforcing frame member, hinge and pivot mounting means.

FIGURE 10 is a side view of a spring clip nut for use in securing the pivot rod to the reinforcing frame member, hinge and pivot mounting means as shown in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a top view of the spring clip not illustrated in FIGURE 10 taken in the direction of arrow 11 in FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a broken elevation 'view of a modification of the folding door structure illustrated in FIG- URES 18.

FIGURE 13 is a section view of the modified folding door structure illustrated in FIGURE 12 and taken substantially on the line 1313 in FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a section view of the modified door structure illustrated in FIGURE 12 taken substantially on the line 14-14 in FIGURE 12.

With particular reference to the figures of the drawings, one embodiment of the present invention will now be considered.

In accordance with the invention the folding doors 16 illustrated in FIGURES 1-9 are provided with a combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means 12. Further, the combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means 12 is provided with spaced openings 14 in the ends 16 thereof adapted to receive the pivot'rods 26 for pivotal mounting of the doors in the upper and lower tracks rate manufacture and assembly of reinforcing members.

hinges and pivot mounting means are not required. Additionally, the door structure as indicated is particularly efiicient since the door leaves are completely interchangethe folding doors 1t) are installed may be provided 'with appropriate trim material such as the quarter round molding illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 at the top and,

both sides thereof. 7

Tracks 13, along which the pivot rods 26. of the folding doors 16 are guided in opening and closing the doors 10, are provided at the top 32 and bottom 34 of the opening 28 as best shown in FIGURE 5. tracks 18 which extend horizontally are shaped as shown The.

in cross section in FIGUREIS to provide. a recess 36, in

which the pivot rods 26 of the door 10 are positioned.

The tracks'l are secured in the opening 28 by con- ,venient means such as the wood screws 38.

. The individual door leaves 20 and 22 of the foldingdoors 16 each comprise a panel member 41) as shown best in FIGURES 6 and 8 having a substantially fiat continuous planar portion 42, edge portions 44 extending at right angles thereto from both sides thereof, and I flange members 46' depending from the edge portions 44] as shown best in'FIGURE S; The door leaves 20"and 22 also include a plurality of the combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means 12 spaced vertically therealong as shown best in FIGURE 5.

The combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means 12 comprises a U-shaped central portion 48 having fiange'portions 56 extending away from each other depending from the free ends52 of the U-shaped central portion 43. The flanges 59, of the member 12 are secured to the planar portion of the panel,

42 by convenient means such as spot welding along their length. Y

Additionally, .the member 12 is provided with off- 4 the member 12 is slotted and return folded to provid spaced cylindrical portions 60 along the outer edge 62 thereof adapted to interfit with mating cylindrical portions along the edge of a similar member12 on an adjacent door leaf to provide door hinges in conjunction with the hinge pin 24 extending through the cylindrical portions 66-. The member 12 thus serves to providedoor hinges between the separate leaves 20 and 22 of aifold ing door 1t).

Further, as will be noted from an'inspection of P16- URE 6, the leg portions 64 and 66 of the U-snaped'portion 48, of they member 12 are provided at the, end. 16

with the pair of longitudinally spaced openings Mextending. therethrough. The openings 14 provide mounting means for the pivot rods 26 whereby, if desired, the Width of the individual leaves 20 and 22 of the doors 10 between the hinge pin 24, and the pivotrod 26 may be varied to preventrboth leaves of a folding door 10 from assuming a ninety degree angle with respect to the. track 18 on opening of the door whereby the door is prevented from binding in an open position.

The pivot rods 26 are secured inthe openings 14 by means of the pivot nuts 68' and bushings 70. The pivot nuts 68 and bushings 70? are held in position by means offlanges 72' and struck out portions 74' thereof as. shown best in FIGURE 7. v

In assembly the pivot rods 26 are inserted through the bushings '70 and threaded through the nuts 68 and are adjusted so that the ends 76 thereof having bushings 73 thereon extend within the recesses 36. The pivot rods 26 are then fixed in the adjusted positions by the set screw 80 extending through the flange 72 of the nut 68, theside 66 of theU-shaped portion 48 of the member 1 2 and into engagement with the pivot rod 26 through the slot 82 in thenut68. g 7

As shown best in FIGURE 7, a special headed bushing 84 may be provided at the moving side of a folding. door 10. Convenient means (not shown) are provided at the fixed side of the folding door to prevent movement of the rods 26 having bushings 78 thereon longitudinally of the tracks 18. 7

Thus it will be seen that in accordance with the irrvention there is provided novel door structure which includes a combination reinforcing member, hinge and pivotmounting means. The over-all structure of the door of the invention is simpler than prior door structures and less expensive tomanufacture; In addition, as has previously beenindicated, doorsconstructed in accordance with the invention are particularly etficient in operation since they include few parts which may require maintenance. p

Furtherthe doors are completely reversiblef both structurally and in their pivot mountings. Thus, anydoor leaf may be used as either the fixed or sliding leaf of folding doors and either door leaf of a folding door 'rnay. be of less width than the'other to prevent lockingof the door in open position. The modification of the inventionillustrated in FIG- URE 9 provides a spring clip nut for securing the pivot rods 26 to the combination reinforcing member, hinge leaf andpivot mounting means 12 in placeof the pivot nuts 68 and bushings 70' illustratedin FIGURE 5. The spring clip nut -is cheaper to manufacture than the many parts'necessaryfor securing the pivot rod 26 in an, adjustedv position including the pivot nuts- 68, bushings-70 and set screws 80 indicated. Further the spring clip-nut 90 maybe assembled much more quickly than the usualv pivot nuts 68, bushings 7 0 and set screws 80. As shown best in FIGURES 10 and 11' the spring clip nut 90 comprises a U-shaped member which may be stamped and bent from a single sheet of spring steel in they form illustrated. As shown the U-shape member includes the connecting portion 92 and the leg portions 94 having the tab locks 96 formed therein. Eachof the leg portions 94- includes a recess 98 extending frornthe free end 100 of the leg portions 94 toward the connecting portion 92 forming parts 102 and 104 on opposite sides thereof. The recesses 98 have sides converging toward the connecting portion 92 and terminating in a circular cut-out portion 106. Further a slot 108 is provided extending from the connecting portion side of the circular cut-out portion 1% toward the connecting portion 92 to permit bending of the parts 102 and 104 of the legs 94 in opposite directions transversely of the leg portions 94 to conform to the pitch of the threads of a threaded pivot rod 26 positioned within the circular cut-out portion 166 as best shown in FIGURE 9.

In assembly of the pivot rod 26 with the combination reinforcing member, hinge and pivot mounting means 12 as shown in FIGURE 9 the pivot rod 26 is inserted through the openings 110 in the leg portions 64 and 66 of the U-shaped portion 48 of the member 12 and adjusted to provide a desired door position. The leg portions 94 of the spring clip nut 99 are then inserted through a pair of parallel slots 112 provided in a recess 114 in the connecting part 58 of the U-shaped portion 48 of the member 12. As the leg portions 98 are inserted through the parallel slots 112 the pivot rod 26 is camrned along the converging sides 99 of the recess 98 and into the circular cut-out portion 106. During the camming operation the portions 102 and 104 of the spring clip nut are caused to bend slightly in opposite directions as shown in FIGURE'9 in accordance with the slope of the threads on the opposite sides of the pivot rod 26. The spring clip not 90 is locked in position by the locking tabs 96. I

The pivot rod 26 is thus held securely in an axial position and prevented from rotating during normal operat-ion of the door due to the friction between the threads of the pivot rod 26 and the sides of the circular cut-out portion 106 of the spring clip nut 90. The pivot rod 26 may however be adjusted axially by rotation of rod 26 with a convenient tool such as a screw driver.

The modified folding door structure 120 illustrated in FIGURES 12l4 is similar to that illustrated in FIGURES l 9. The modified door structure 120 comprises the separate relatively foldable leaves 121 and 123 each of which includes a panel member 122 and combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means 124. The threaded pivot rod 126 and the unthreaded pivot rods 128, 130 and 132 in conjunction with the clevises 160, 170 and 176 are provided for mounting the folding doors 120 in the upper track 136 and the lower track 138.

As shown best in FIGURE 13 each panel member 122 includes the planar portion 146, edge portions 142 and flanges 144. The reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means 124 includes the U-shaped central portion 146 having flange portions 148 extending away from each other depending from the free ends of the U-shaped central portion 146 and offset portions 156 and 152 depending from the opposite ends of the central portion 146. The flanges 148 and the offset portions 150 and 152 are secured to the panel 122 and flanges 144 by convenient means such as spot welding. The offset portions 152 are folded as shown in FIGURE 13 to provide a hinge 154 between the panels 122 to permit relative longitudinal folding thereof.

The fixed pivot rods 126 and 128 are fastened in openings 156 and 158 respectively provided in the upper and lower tracks 136 and 138 as shown best in FIGURE 12. The threaded pivot rod 126 is secured in position on the U-shaped portion 146 of the combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means 124 of the modified door structure 120 by means of the clevis 160 in conjunction with the screw 162. Clevis 160 is provided with a threaded opening 164 extending through the bottom thereof through which the threaded pivot rod 126 is moved to provide axial adjustment thereof in installation. As shown best in FIGURE 14 the pivot rods 126 and 128 are held in a predetermined axial position with respect to the 6 tracks 136 and 138 and the combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means 124 on tightening of the set screws 162 and 168 in the clevises and 170 respectively.

The clevis 170 differs from the clevis 160 only in that both openings 172 and 174 therethrough are unthreaded Whereas the opening 164 through the clevis 160 is threaded. On tightening of the set screws 162 and 168 in the clevises with the screws in engagement with the pivot rods the clevises tend to move away from the combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means 124 whereupon the pivot pins are held tightly between the openings in the clevises and the portion 146 of the combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means 124 through which they pass.

The sliding pivot rod 132 and positioning means there for including clevis 176 is in all respects similar to the pivot rod 128 and clevis 170. The bushing 178 is however formed slightly differently to permit sliding of the pivot rod 132 longitudinally of the track 138 as before.

No means for fixing the position of the upper sliding pivot rod 130 is provided. Thus in installation the upper pivot rod 136 is urged upwardly into contact with the upper track 136 by means of the conical spring 180. Sliding of the pivot rods 130 and 132 longitudinally of the respective tracks 136 and 138 is therefore not effected by slight differences in the vertical distance between the tracks 136 and 138 since some difference therebetween may be taken up by axial movement of the pivot rod 130 in opposition to the spring 180.

The structure illustrated in FIGURES 12-14 provides a folding door structure which is especially advantageous in that it may be quickly and easily installed in an opening wherein the tracks 136 and 138 have been previously positioned in vertical alignment.

Thus with the folding door 121) wherein the pivot rods 126, 128, 130 and 132 are originally positioned in their innermost relation to the panels 122 the threaded pivot rod 126 is first adjusted to a predetermined distance below the bottom of the door 120 by threading the pivot rod 126 through the threaded opening 164 on loosening the set screw 162 and subsequently tightening the screw 162. The doors 120 are then positioned within the opening provided therefor with the bushing 166 on pivot rod 126 extending within the opening 156 in track 138;

The upper unthreaded fixed pivot rod 128 is then adjusted vertically to fit within the opening 158 provided therefor in the track 136 after which the set screw 168 is tightened.

A shipping clamp (not shown) is then removed from the pivot rod 136 and the bushing 179 thereon is allowed to spring into the track 136 under the bias of spring 180 after which the axial position of the unthreaded pivot rod 132 is adjusted. Rod 132 is then secured in an adjusted position by means of the set screw 182 to complete the installation of the door structure 120 with a minimum of effort.

The drawings and foregoing specification constitute the description of the improved door structure in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A U-shaped combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means having a pair of leg portions secured together by a connecting portion and aligned openings extending through the leg portions, a U-shaped clevis also having a pair of leg portions secured together by a connecting portion fitting over the U-shaped combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means and having openings in the leg portions thereof aligned with the openings in the leg portions of the combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means, a pivot rod extending through the aligned openings, and a screw threaded through the connecting portion of the U-shaped clevis, passing through the connect,-

rod whereby the pivot rod is secured to the combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means.

2. A U-shaped combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means having aligned openings extending through portions thereof, a U-shaped clevis fitting over the U-shaped combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means and having openings therein aligned with the openings in the combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means, a pivot rodextendingthrough the aligned openings, and a screw threaded through the -u-shaped clevis, extending through the combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means and engaging the pivot rod for securing the pivot rod to the combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means. I

3. A folding door having a fixed and a sliding side comprising apair of door panels, a separate, integral combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means for securing the panels together at the top and bottom of the door having a U-shaped cross section and aligned openings therein adjacent both the fixed and sliding sideof the door, separate tracks secured adjacent the top and bottom of the door, a fixedpivot rod extending through the openings in the U-shaped cross section of the reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means at the top and bottom of the fixed side of the folding door, a sliding pivot rod extending through the opening in the U-shaped cross section of the reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means at the top and bottom of the sliding side of the folding door and means operable between the pivot rods and the combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means for securing the pivot rods in fixed axial positions with respect to thecombination reinforcing j member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means associated therewith, each comprising a U-shaped clevis fitting over the respective combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means and having openings therein aligned with the openings in the respective combination reinforcing member, leaf hinge and pivot mounting means through which the particular pivot rods extends and a screw threaded through the U- shaped clevis and engaging the pivot rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,987,565 Schuster Jan. 8, 1935 7 2,010,593 Kasik Aug. 6,1935

2,044,700 Jones June 16, 1936' 2,321,491 Keys et al June 8, 1943 2,535,309 Norberg Oct, 10, 1950 2,717,033 Breslow et al. Sept. 6, 1955 2,860,701 Wood et a1. Nov. 18, 1958 2,827,115 Stroup Mar. 18, 1958 2,871,932 Stroup Feb. 3, 1959 2,915,118- Capitani Dec. 1, 1959 2,923,385 Timmerman Feb. 2, 1960 3,019,836 Leigh Feb. 6, 1962 3,023,804 Howell Mar. 6, 1962 3,062,277 Merrill Nov. 6, 1962 3,082,474 Anderson Mar. 26, 1963 

1. A U-SHAPED COMBINATION REINFORCING MEMBER, LEAF HINGE AND PIVOT MOUNTING MEANS HAVING A PAIR OF LEG PORTIONS SECURED TOGETHER BY A CONNECTING PORTION AND ALIGNED OPENINGS EXTENDING THROUGH THE LEG PORTION AND ALIGNED CLEVIS ALSO HAVING A PAIR OF LEG PORTIONS SECURED TOGETHER BY A CONNECTING PORTION FITTING OVER THE U-SHAPED COMBINATION REINFORCING MEMBER, LEAF HINGE AND PIVOT MOUNTING MEANS AND HAVING OPENINGS IN THE LEG PORTIONS THEREOF ALINGED WITH THE OPENINGS IN THE LEG PORTIONS OF THE COMBINATION REINFORCING MEMBER, LEAF HINGE AND PIVOT MOUNTING MEANS, A PIVOT ROD EXTENDING THROUGH THE ALINED OPENINGS, AND A SCREW THREADED THROUGH THE CONNECTING PORTION OF THE U-SHAPED CLEVIS, PASSING THROUGH THE CONNECTING PORTION OF THE COMBINATION REINFORCING MEMBER, LEAF HINGE AND PIVOT MOUNTING MEANS AND ENGAGING THE PIVOT ROD WHEREBY THE PIVOT ROD IS SECURED TO THE COMBINATION REINFORCING MEMBER, LEAF HINGE AND PIVOT MOUNTING MEANS. 